Colts Football Program Has Room To Improve Heading Into Opener

The football team has some strengths this season, but head coach Gary Griffith is more concerned with his team’s weaknesses. 

A scrimmage against Warren Cousino, Utica Eisenhower, Southfield and Dearborn Fordson the week before the Colts opener revealed they still have some work to do on both sides of the ball. 

“We are not where we need to be,” Griffith said. 

Griffith expected some struggles from his inexperienced defense. The group only brings back three starters from last year and only two of them will be playing the same position.

Senior Jarrett Bochniak is moving from defensive end to linebacker. Senior Davion Rice is back in the secondary and senior Matt Oppenlander is the only returning starter on the defensive line.

Asked to assess if the defense’s problem at the scrimmage was struggling with technique or missing assignments, Griffith’s reply was to the point.  

“Yes,” he said. 

The Colts had a lengthy film session the day after the scrimmage where they went through all the mistakes. Video is one of the most helpful tools a coaching staff has. It helps players get a visual of exactly what they are doing wrong.

“We have a starting point,” Griffith said. “We have to start narrowing in because we are getting ready for an opponent, not just in general. Historically, you make more progress – improvement wise – between your scrimmage and your first game of the year. We have to get better in a hurry.” 

Troy’s offense is further along than the defense. Six starters are back from last season including three on the offensive line. Starting quarterback Justin Losey is also back. 

Losey started as a sophomore last season. He looks a lot more comfortable in the pocket and admittedly has a much better understanding of the offense.

“It’s a lot easier this year,” Losey said. “Coming in as a sophomore, not knowing what to expect the first couple of weeks was tough. You know what’s going to happen now. You know to handle different situations, it’s a lot easier.”

Griffith said he has seen a tremendous improvement in Losey’s overall game.

“He’s improved his passing a great deal,” Griffith said. “His throwing motion, his reads, his progressions – he’s just more comfortable with what’s going on. He’s also being pushed by sophomore quarterback Jay Darish and competition always make you better.”

He will have some time to throw behind a line that returns three starters. Bochniak returns at tackle with junior guards Greg Webber and Tommy Richardson.

“The line is the strength on the offense and I hope that gets us going,” Griffith said.

The hole in the offense is at running back. Troy doesn’t really have a player fully suited to the position.

Griffith has been rotating people at practice trying to find a standout. He hasn’t found an answer yet.

“We are a little weak at running back,” Griffith said. “We are rotating linebackers and ends trying to find somebody. We just don’t have a dominant guy so we are going to do it by committee.”

Despite the weak spots, there is still a lot of enthusiasm about the squad. They have a lot of young starters that will have room to improve.

The Colts were just one win away last season from being a playoff team. They finished 5-4 in 2010 and two of their losses were very close games. Rochester beat them in week three 17-7, followed by a 21-7 loss to Clarkston the following week. 

“We were so close (to the playoffs),” Losey said. “That Rochester game -- even against Clarkston we held them to 14 points in the first half. Hopefully this year we’ll pick up a game like that Rochester game. Just one big win to push us into the playoffs.”